Dance

Mara Mires was born in the heart of the Network, among books and readings, assemblies, mingas and librarians. From a very young age, she accompanied us on trips to the countryside and, even though she could not speak or walk well, she was with us when we visited the children with projectable capacities. When she was older, Mara learned to play with these children, to do some therapy exercises for them or to look for the homeopathic remedy that we indicated to her. At the library assemblies, she taught us how to make origami and helped to record the testimonies during the oral tradition rescues. Today, Mara is responsible for our social networks.

But Mara is not only that. She started practising ballet at the age of seven, then she learned to tap dance and is currently pursuing a degree in dance at the University of Antioquia in Medellín.

We rarely get to see Mara dance, because of the distance. We were very impressed by her contemporary dance performance at an event of the Ballet Academy ‘Coppèlia’ in the Plazuela San Pedro in Cajamarca in recent days.

Congratulations, dear Mara.

Danza, baila, ronda,
florea, zapatea, gira, menea,
salta, piruetea, juega,
retoza, festeja.

Dance, dance, around,

flower, stamps, spin, twirl,

jump, pirouette, play,

frolic, celebrate.

Alfredo Mires Ortiz

In: La ensoñación del Ñaupa (The daydream of Ñaupa)